A Comparison of Verbal Satiation and Minimal Arousal Conditioning to Reduce Deviant Arousal in the Laboratory

Abstract

Two groups of incarcerated inmates were assessed by means of plethysmography and treated with two methods to reduce tested deviant arousal. Group 1 completed a variation of minimal arousal conditioning which included masturbating to ejaculation to an appropriate audio tape and then administering ammonia when aroused to a subsequent tape of their deviant interest. Group 2 was exposed to a variation of masturbatory satiation followed by minimal arousal conditioning (as above). Clients were tested by plethysmography following each course of treatment. Percentage arousal was subjected to Mann-Whitney U tests of significance. Analysis revealed minimal arousal conditioning to be an effective method in reducing deviant arousal.

Keywords

sexual offending conditioning techniques olfactory conditioning satiation techniques.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Abel, G.G. , Becker, J.V. , Cunningham-Rathner, J. , Rouleau, J. , Caplan, M. , & Reich, J. (1984). The treatment of child molesters: A manual, Unpublished manuscript.

Becker, J.V. , Stein, R.M. , Caplan, M.S. , & Cunningham-Rathner, J. (1992). Erection response characteristics of adolescent sex offenders. Annals of Sex Research, 5, 81-86.

Freund, K. , Diamant, J. , & Pincava, V. (1958). [On the validity and reliability of the phallo plethysmographic diagnosis of some sexual deviations] Review of Czechoslovak Medicine, 4, 145-151.

Gray, S.R. , & Roubicek, S. L (1990). Appropriate and paraphilic audio tapes for the sexual offender. Phoenix: Psychological and Consulting Services.

Hunter, J.A., Jr. , & Goodwin, D.W. (1992). The clinical utility of satiation therapy with juvenile sex offenders: Variations in efficacy. Annals of Sex Research, 5, 71-80.

Jensen, S.H. (undated). Minimal arousal conditioning. Center for Behavioral Intervention.

Kelly, R.J. (1982). Behavioral reorientation of pedophiliacs: Can it be done? Clinical Psychology Review, 2, 387-408.

Laws, D.R. , & Marshall, W.L. (1991). Masturbatory reconditioning with sexual deviates: An evaluative review. Advances in Behavior Research and Therapy, 13, 13-25.

Maletzky, B. (1980). Self referred versus court referred sexually deviant patients: Success with assisted covert sensitization. Behavior Therapy, 11, 306-314.

10.

O'Donahue, W. , & LeTourneau, E. (1992). The psychometric properties of the penile tumescence assessment of child molesters. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 14(2), 123-174.

11.

Quinsey, V.L. , & Earls, C.M. (1989). The modification of sexual preferences. In W. L. Marshall , D. R. Laws , & H. E. Barbaree (Eds.), Handbook of sexual assault (pp. 279-295). New York: Plenum Press.

12.

Quinsey, V.L. , & Marshall, W. L (1983). Procedures for reducing inappropriate sexual arousal: An evaluation review. In J. G. Greer & I. R. Stuart (Eds.), The sexual aggressor (pp. 267-289). New York: Van Nostrand.

13.

Siegel, S. (1956). non-parametric statistics for the behavioral sciences . New York: McGraw-Hill.